Baby and child health

The microbiota in infants and children

The newborn infant establishes its gut bacteria and intestinal microbiota from birth and during the first 2.5 years of life. Directly after birth the newborn baby is almost sterile but very soon bacteria start to colonize every part of the body – the skin, the mouth and most importantly the gastrointestinal tract. The number and diversity of bacteria continue to increase until the age of 2.5. At that time the microbiota resembles the composition of an adult and then, more or less, remains the same throughout life.

The interest in gut bacteria and the infant’s microbiota has exploded in recent years and research has shown that the infant microbiota plays an essential role in human health. A diverse microbiota may help the infant to optimize the development of the gastrointestinal tract and optimal health in later life.